Strawberry Acai Lemonade

It’s summer time! I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for some summery drinks. This drink should be familiar to many Starbucks fans, and it’s because this Strawberry Acai Lemonade really is summer refreshment in a glass.

I wanted to capture the taste of a strawberry açaí refresher, but without using syrup. You see, I wanted to make it so you can use whatever sweetener you prefer. I love this recipe with stevia or organic cane sugar.

I used water and white grape juice as the base, because I needed a very neutral taste. You could also use apple juice if that’s all you have on hand.

I’ll be adding this to my summer drink repertoire, along with Cucumber Detox Water, Mango Juice, Soursop Juice, and Ginger Juice.

Strawberry Acai Lemonade

I love love love a good yummy drink that is still nutritious. With fresh strawberries, lemon, and açaí powder, this drink is a triple threat!

You can add other fruits and berries, omit the lemon or replace with lime, and add other juices. It is so customizable and is hard to mess it up. 

The strawberry açaí refresher uses freeze dried strawberries, which you can do if you like, but I do prefer to use fresh strawberries.

Acai Benefits

Açaí is a dark purple fruit from a palm tree native to Central and South America. They are usually called berries, but are actually drupes, also known as stone fruits. Some other examples of drupes are apricots, peaches, dates, and mangos.

Açaí has an earthy but tart taste, like a mixture of berries and chocolate. My favorite way to try the unadulterated taste of açaí is by eating Sambazon Açaí Sorbet, which I get from Whole Foods and other health food stores.

The reason why you won’t find fresh açaí, only freeze dried powder or frozen pulp, is because the fruit goes bad so quickly it cannot be exported. I buy açaí pulp from Trader Joe’s sometimes to add to smoothies or drinks like this.

Açaí is a staple food in the Amazon region where it is predominantly known, used in the indigenous cultures there because of its nutrient profile.

It is famous for antioxidants, most notably anthocyanins, which are found in dark bluish purple fruits. Açaí also has good amounts of vitamin A, fiber, and healthy fats.

When you are buying açaí products, make sure they are pure açaí and not loaded with added sugars. I like pure freeze-dried açaí powder, like I used in this recipe, or frozen açaí pulp, which you can use as a substitute.

Strawberry Nutrition Facts

One of the most common and recognizable fruits that even most toddlers can name is also absolutely nutrition-packed. We usually associate the sour citruses with vitamin C, but strawberries are also full of this immune system boosting vitamin.

They are mostly full of water and a bit of fiber, meaning they are low in sugar and calories. They also have many useful compounds and antioxidants, making strawberries such a healthy and delicious treat. Not many other foods can have you eating a bowlful like it’s a sweet salad!

Strawberries contain folate which is good to reduce birth defects while the mother is pregnant. 

Because of their low carbohydrate content, they are a good way for those with diabetes to satisfy a sweet craving. As always, please consult your medical provider before making any changes to your diet!

Lemon Nutrition Facts

Lemons originate from India, then spreading globally to temperate and tropical regions of the world. They were sought after by early sailors to prevent or treat Vitamin C deficiency, also known as scurvy.

It is grown on an evergreen shrub and the tree produces ripe yellow fruits practically all year round. It is highly prized in the manufacturing industry for lemon oil, lemon juice, pectin, and citric acid.

Medicinally, lemons have been used for centuries. They have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. Lemons contain vitamin C or ascorbic acid, citric acid (gives lemons sour taste), flavonoids, Vitamin B complex, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, phosphorus, iron, and fiber.

The fruit is low in calories – 29 calories per 100 grams – contains no saturated fats, nor cholesterol. Although lemon is acidic when eaten, it has an alkalizing and purifying effect on the blood.

Strawberry Acai Lemonade Recipe

• Strawberries
• Water
• White Grape Juice
• Lemon
• Açaí Powder
• Sweetener of choice

How To Make Strawberry Acai Refresher?

1. Wash, core, and cut strawberries in halves, and add to a high-speed blender.
2. Add the water, white grape juice, lemon juice, and açaí powder to the blender. Blend the mixture until it is smooth.
3. Strain the mixture into a pitcher with a cheesecloth to remove the strawberry seeds and anything that isn’t fully blended up.
4. Add sugar, syrup, liquid stevia, or agave nectar to taste. I have used a 1/2 cup of cane sugar or roughly a dropper of stevia.
5. Stir thoroughly, and serve over ice or chill in the refrigerator. Cut up some strawberries, and sprinkle them on top with mint for a pretty garnish!
6. Store this strawberry açaí lemonade in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

More Vegan Strawberry Recipes:

• Strawberry Breakfast Cake
• Vegan Strawberry Cobbler
• Gluten-Free Strawberry Oat Bars
• Vegan French Toast with Strawberries
• Strawberry Banana Bread
• Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream
• Strawberry Jam with Chia Seeds
• Vegan Strawberry Protein Pancakes

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